BANDLEADERS and other Carnival stakeholders yesterday expressed excitement and enthusiasm for the return of the Parade of the Bands on Carnival Monday and Tuesday to the big stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah.

Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Winston Peters yesterday said government will ensure the necessary resources will be used to ensure Carnival is “given back to the people”. Plans for the then PNM administration’s National Carnival Centre for the Savannah are to be scrapped and government intends on returning to stakeholder consultations to include local input in the construction of the project.

Peters spoke to reporters after handing over $1 million towards the completion of the Little Carib Theatre restoration project at the theatre located at the corner of Robert and White Streets, Port-of-Spain. He said the main stage will be rebuilt and described this as a step in the right direction for Carnival after the parade of the bands was relocated to the streets of Port-of-Spain from 2007.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday, four-time winner of the Large Band of the Year award, Brian MacFarlane said he has been hearing about the return to the stage for a few weeks. “I am very enthused and excited about it. I think everyone who is a part of carnival wants to be where they could be seen by international media,” he said. » Read the full post